Business Fortune
Each child has his or her unique way of learning, communicating, and fitting into the world. The issue for parents is finding support which can accommodate individual needs rather than having the same requirements for all children.
Little Steps founded in 2022 by Recha Sood, who holds a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) and Registered Behaviour Analyst certification and has more than 15 years of experience in working with individuals with autism. Little Steps is based on one simple principle that progress does not necessarily have to be made in large jumps. It might take the form of a child's communication of needs, better transition tolerance, interaction with another child, and increased independence.
The organization provides evidence-based ABA therapy alongside group classes, in-school support, in-home therapy, and parent coaching. The common factor is that of personalization. Instead of putting each child through the same program, the team determines what the current level of the child is and develops goals based on what will make daily living easier for him/her.
In-Centre ABA Therapy
The Scarborough location of Little Steps has the structure that the children who need a specific environment in which to learn require. The process enables the therapist to work toward specific goals and at the same time provides the child with the opportunity to practice specific skills on a regular basis.
The sessions may consist of one-on-one skill building, communication and language support, play therapy, structured teaching, as well as socialization with other children. The main idea is that the goals do not have to be confined only to the activities taking place within the centre but may be extended to include home, school and community readiness, providing the child with the practice of skills that serve a definite purpose outside the therapy session.
In-Home ABA Therapy
At other times, the best possible setting for therapy is right where people live their normal lives. The home ABA therapy offered by Little Steps involves one-on-one therapy conducted within the home. This implies that therapists will conduct communication, transition, play, independence, and socialization training in areas where they should happen naturally.
Therapists can work with children during meals, transitions from one activity to another, play with siblings, or gain independence during various activities. Conducting therapy in the real setting helps in strengthening the relationship between therapy and normal activities. In addition, parents and caregivers can also be part of the session and get training as well.
Group Classes
Usually, the sessions involve four to six children with expert therapists leading the activities according to the specific needs of the particular group. The children have the chance to develop their abilities related to communication, socialization, confidence, and peer interaction in an organized manner.
Children aged three to ten who have issues with autism or behavior will have a chance through these classes to practice what might be hard for them to learn individually. Things like waiting, communication, participation, and peer interaction become an actual experience for them instead of just theoretical discussions in their individual therapy sessions.
In-School Support
The most important form of progress occurs when it is extended into everyday situations. The school represents a very important everyday situation. Little Steps' school-based ABA services are intended to allow children to better integrate into their classroom activities. Such services can include communication with peers, attention, learning readiness, emotional control, transition, classroom skills, independence, and transferring current therapy objectives to the school setting.
The program understands that successful school support cannot be accomplished in isolation either. This is why Little Steps works together with teachers, educators, and the entire school staff in order for the child to encounter consistent expectations and methods.
This link between therapy, family and school is vital. Rather than having the child adjust to entirely different methods of dealing with things, the people around him/her can work towards common objectives.
Parent Coaching
Children also have way more time in their families than in therapy. That’s why in Little Steps, families are treated as an integral part of the process. Parent coaching helps to find solutions for communication, schedules, transitions, behavioral interventions, play, independent activities, daily living activities, siblings’ interaction, and family dynamics.
It is intended to be really practical. In such a way, the families will be able to share what is going on at home, learn strategies, ask questions, and see what can be done. This approach also corresponds to one of the beliefs of Little Steps. Children should be approached as a holistic person rather than just a diagnosis. Such values as respect and dignity, evidence-based practice, and achievement are the key values of Little Steps.
Building One Small Step at a Time
Behind Little Steps is a team led by Recha Sood, whose academic background includes psychology, autism and behavioural science, and a Master of Education in Autism. She is supported by supervised behaviour therapists and an experienced administrator, creating a team that combines clinical knowledge with day-to-day family support.
In the future, Little Steps will probably find that their growth will be governed by the same rule that dictated their early years; make support practical, personal, and relevant. Their approach, combining both centre-based and home-based therapies, group learning, schooling support, and parental training, offers a way to ensure progress beyond the end of any individual therapy session.
For parents, this can be the most significant promise of all. The main purpose is not only to develop abilities in a therapist’s office but to ensure that these abilities find a way into the daily life of the child, one small step at a time.
Recha Sood | Founder
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